Cruise lines accused of price fixing
Several Miami-based cruise giants-including Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Carnival Corp. and Norwegian Cruise Line—have been named in a complaint seeking class action status alleging the cruise companies colluded to fix unreasonably high fuel surcharges, according to The Miami Herald.
The Florida attorney general’s office announced earlier this month that it was investigating whether Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corp. properly disclosed fuel surcharges.
The suit says anyone who purchased tickets after 1 January from one of several cruise companies named in the complaint paid an unreasonably high fuel surcharge illegally set by the companies.
Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corp. announced a $5-a-guest fuel charge in November and began applying it on voyages starting 1 February.
Also in November, Oceania Cruises said it would implement a fuel surcharge of $7 per person, per day. Windstar Cruises and Majestic America Line raised fuel fees to $8.50 per person per day, according to the Herald.
The suit alleges that the nearly identical spate of fuel hikes is proof of price fixing among cruise lines.
Report by David Wilkening
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